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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#75: New Year, New You

For many of us, the last year was like living through a low-budget disaster movie — but the good thing about the new year is that it gives us an excuse to start fresh. And even though flipping a calendar doesn’t necessarily fix all our problems, it’s still good to take a moment and think about everything you do have the power to change.

In that spirit, this week’s prompts are all about fresh starts. From small, personal achievements to huge goals that will change the world, everything starts with the decision to try. What sort of things will your characters achieve this year? What sort of things will you?

This week's prompts

Write about someone who has finally managed to succeed at a long-standing New Year’s resolution.

Winter – 98 stories

Write about someone whose job is to help people leave their old lives behind.

Adults – 246 stories

Start your story with one character making a vow that they never would have made the year before.

Holiday – 102 stories

Write about someone who doesn’t remember their past — and doesn’t want to.

Thriller and Suspense – 205 stories

Write about two characters who each want to change the same thing, but resolve to go about it in very different ways.

Teens – 84 stories

Stories

“Today ” by Anna Yosifova

Submitted to Contest #75

The day started as every other day. She woke up, too sweaty to even breath. Her skin shining under the morning sun that was almost inside the tiny Chicago apartment. Her fingers touched gently the flower that was sitting patiently next to the window. The only thing that was left from her past. The only evidence that somewhere before, years and years she existed. Maybe under a different name, working a different job, dating different guy, but she did exist. Somewhere between times maybe. The warm water hugged her tiny body. -Sarah? -s...

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“Better Forgotten than Remembered” by Skylar Esmeralda

Submitted to Contest #75

‘Beep beep beep’ a sound echoed through the room. Slowly, she opened her eyes and blinked at the bright light shining down at her. Where was she? What was that noise? With great caution, she sat up. Looking around the room, she realized she was in a hospital room. The noise was coming from the heart monitor beside her hospital bed. Why was she here? What happened to her? She felt numb all over her body. She couldn’t feel anything. She lifted her hand and looked at it. It looked pale and thin, like a dead body’s. She clenched her fist, trying...

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“High School Trio” by Kimberly Lamela

Submitted to Contest #75

Ashley is anxious. Sitting in the school bus full of unfamiliar faces, and smiling and nodding to those who meet her eyes make her want to throw up. She has been like this for two weeks. “It’s going to be okay, darling,” her mother would always say just before she leaves the house to wait for the school bus. She would smile upon hearing this, but she knew she’s not going to be okay. How can she be okay? “Hey Ash, move over,” Dion says as she sits beside Ashley. “Mom said she won’t be home until tomorrow, so I’ll stay at your place tonight.”...

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“Room of Regrets” by Seemless Pen

Submitted to Contest #75

When Jane entered the mother's room, the first thing she saw was the turquoise wallpaper, and the bed with turquoise color- her mother's favorite.Before entering the room, she had taken a deep breath, repeating what the psychiatrist had told her. Breathe, you are no longer the vulnerable child that you are, you are now strong and independent and lovable woman, and you can stand up and protect yourself.The next thing she noticed was a strong smell of antiseptic and a sickly familiar floral smell and she noticed that her mother, despite having...

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“Life after the Nightmare” by T Gordon-Hall

Submitted to Contest #75

On the surface his life was normal, mundane even, but fulfilling. He had a beautiful family and a job that he didn’t mind doing, and it even paid well enough for them to not struggle. A perfect scene of domestic bliss. That was all they were to anyone else, and that was all he wanted to be. A few years back he’d been in an accident, he was a bit fuzzy on the details but thankfully his wife took care of everything. It was strange, even the hospital stay was blurry so he couldn’t remember any details of the incident or his treatment until a...

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“The Nightmare” by Esther Gonzales

Submitted to Contest #75

Luna’s heart pounded. She glanced at the clock. 12:30 am. Hesitantly, she set the empty coffee cup on the table beside her bed with only one thought in her mind, I can’t sleep tonight. She slid underneath her warm fuzzy blanket and opened her laptop to Netflix. Clicking on her favorite show, the one she’s seen a million times, she clicked play. Halfway through season 3 episode 17, her eyes grew heavy. - “Alex!” Luna gasped. Quickly, the car swerved just fast enough to avoid an oncoming semi. “What?” asked Alex groggily. She glanced over ...

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“Replay the day ” by Farzanah Ebrahim

Submitted to Contest #75

My mind was fully awake and alert but despite every fervent effort on my part, my eyes refused to budge. I could feel the soft sheets beneath my almost bare skin and could smell the lavender scent as it waltzed against my nose. Everything felt so familiar yet at the same time so very strange. After a bit of self motivation and an equal amount of force my eyes eventually decided to co-operate. The sleep induced crust from my sweet slumber cracked as I slowly opened my eyes and took in my surroundings. The room before me was immaculately clean...

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“Distant Song of Remembrance” by Shay Metzger

Submitted to Contest #75

Sometimes I wonder what happened that caused people to speak with hushed whispers around me, casting fearful glances my way as if I could kill them by just looking at them. I wonder what I could possibly do to cause this, or what trouble I had gotten myself into before the accident. Oh, the dreaded accident! All I remember is smoke, billowing to the top of the ceiling, suffocating everything in the room. I remember standing there, in the middle, with something in my hands. I remember there were screams, and that was it. I don’t know if I ev...

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“Cory” by Coty Ward

Submitted to Contest #75

In another galaxy much like our own. On a planet similar to earth, where heroes are in abundance and life is easier, there lived a special boy. He lived in a small town with a few low-key heroes. The big heroes normally stayed near the big cities. On planet Dracor the sun was red, the sky pink, the trees where purple and blue surrounded by a lavender grass The boy, Cory, was from a normal family with no history of heroes in the family ever. Cory had no illusions of one day becoming a hero as his friends did. Cory in fact hated the her...

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“A troubled past” by Michael Schild

Submitted to Contest #75

Hank sat in his car which was a tangled up mess while the paramedics worked on getting him out of his car. His seatbelt was stuck as so he just sat there grimising in pain. The loss of blood made him pass out. It took paramedics an hour to cut him out of his car. Finally they removed him and took him to the hospital where he was taken to ICU. Hank's daughter Mary came down as soon ad she heard. She was 18 a cheerleader, class president, straight A student, and on the honor roll. She come running into the ER screaming at the doctors. Let me s...

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“The last note” by Jana Sison

Submitted to Contest #75

It was dark all around, there is a big ancient house nearby the lake. It was made of solid brick, stone or concrete walls on top of a masonry foundationThe night was quiet but the chirping of the bird was like a music to the ear of the maiden happily writing in her book. “I hope I finish you, I always forget to update. A story of us when I give my all to have you by myself”. she just laughed at what she was thinking. We did not exist but we would have been. She turned off the candle before tearing the long cloth in her dress. She natura...

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“Planning for the Future” by Andrea Kepple

Submitted to Contest #75

“Please, have a seat Mrs. Stone and Ms. Stone.” Darlene Hudson, Esq. sweeps her hand like she is about to hit a forehand, indicating the two seats facing her desk. Winter light filters through the white curtains behind the desk embracing Ms. Hudson and her high-backed black leather chair in its glow. “How can I help you today?” “I need to make out my Will, I told your assistant when I made the appointment.” Mom grips the armrest of one the chairs. My hand on the back of the chair keeps it stable while Mom lowers herself. Once Mom is comfort...

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“Sticks With You” by Reyne Martinez

Submitted to Contest #75

The day ends when the 1998 Dodge Ram begins to purr – finally. Hands blackened by oil carefully lower the hood. Tomorrow, Mr. Edelman will receive a call about his truck and the seven-hundred-dollar repair. There might be some light yelling but if a man wants to see his beloved truck back on the road, a price must be paid. Harlan steps away from the day’s project, greasy hands reaching for the rag on the hook. Peering through the glass door between the garage and the storefront, he fails to see the spots of red across the rag. Every bit of ...

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“Never Forgotten” by Clara Woodwake

Submitted to Contest #75

I don’t remember anything. I don’t remember anyone or anything. I don’t know who I am. I don’t want too. All I remember are the woods. My friends. I need to get back to them. I need to find the spirts. I must wake up. Now. I sit up in the bed I’m in. Why am I here? What is this place? I stand up and walk to the window. Its morning and the sun is seeping into the room. My horse is outside. I must get to the spirts. I’m wearing my traveling cloths. Good, I’ll need them. I w...

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“White House ” by Lisa M

Submitted to Contest #75

TW: mention of gun violence The sunlight bled through the windows as I awoke. Laying in a large white bed with white sheets and pillows I felt a light breeze travel in from the window that had been open just so. Although I had no idea what season it was, I could tell that there was a change in the air that filled the room. The smell of when seasons change and click; that's the familiar smell I recalled. There was a calmness in the air that felt familiar, all of this felt familiar— strange though as I had no idea where and wh...

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$50

Prize money

735

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jan 08, 2021 EST

Won by R. A. 🏆

Title: The Violinist

Submissions must be between 1,000 - 3,000 words and will be approved and published on Reedsy Prompts within 7 days of the contest closing.

Read the full terms & conditions or check out the FAQ if you have any questions!

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